Beijing: Asia’s manufacturing sector faced a setback in October as new US tariffs and weak global demand led to a decline in factory activity across key export nations. According to recent economic data, China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan recorded slower output and falling new orders, showing how rising trade tensions are weighing on the region’s economy.

In China, factory activity dropped for the seventh month in a row as exporters struggled to fill orders amid declining demand from the United States. Official figures showed that exports to the US fell by about 27 percent compared to last year, while shipments to other markets rose slightly. Economists say that although Beijing has been trying to find new export destinations, the US remains an important trading partner whose de

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